NOVEL WEB chapter 541
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An hour passed, and the gathered spiritual energy in the arena, along with the effects of the elixirs, was enough for the cultivators to fully recover.
The first duel began, and Qin Shidream took the stage, facing an opponent named Shi Zhi, a swordsman.
This swordsman showed no signs of disdain for Qin Shidream’s appearance. His hair was a wild tangle, bangs obscuring his eyes, his face set in a grim expression, hands cradling his blade. Those dull eyes, hidden beneath the disheveled hair, fixated on the sword as if the world had been reduced to that single weapon.
Once Qin Shidream took her position, he simply uttered, “Let’s begin,” and transformed into a flash of steel, charging at her.
“Shi Zhi… This guy is so young, yet his killing intent is so heavy.” Ye Yong recognized the swordsman immediately; he was destined to be a future companion of the protagonist.
Many swordsmen were madmen, devoted to their blades, and Shi Zhi was a prime example. He was unkempt, spoke little, and carried a dark aura, completely devoid of any romantic prospects. Yet, as the story unfolded, he grew stronger, eventually falling in love with a female cultivator from the Sword Exhibition Hall. Unfortunately, her status was high, and she was promised in marriage to a more prestigious young master from her clan. In the end, Shi Zhi was framed by that young master, retaliated, and took a life. With Long Tian’s help, he narrowly escaped capture, forced to betray his sect and become a shadowy assassin.
Shi Zhi possessed exceptional talent; by the middle of the novel, his cultivation was profound, and his killing prowess was top-notch. When Long Tian was gravely injured and in peril, Shi Zhi eliminated many enemies that came to ambush him.
Compared to Hou Lixie, Shi Zhi had known Long Tian for a shorter time, yet he met his end sooner, his life unfolding like a tragedy.
Now, with Hou Lixie defeated by Qin Shidream, unable to battle Long Tian, the butterfly effect was triggered. He wouldn’t admire the protagonist as in the novel, and he might very well survive. As for Shi Zhi, he hadn’t met Long Tian through the duel, so there remained a significant chance he would become a companion of the protagonist in the future.
Knowing Shi Zhi’s fate, Ye Yong looked at him with a hint of sympathy, further solidifying his resolve to avoid excessive contact with Long Tian.
After all, misfortune begets misfortune.
“Be careful in the next duel,” Ye Yong constantly reminded himself.
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20 Mistakenly Embracing Error
Shi Zhi was no match for Qin Shidream. His reckless, defense-less approach might have given him an edge against others, but before the formidable ice queen, it only hastened his defeat. Before long, frost consumed him, his body frozen stiff, and he was swept out of the arena by a wave of icy sword energy, his hair dusted with frost, looking quite disheveled.
Shi Zhi remained silent. Even as his frozen limbs trembled, he clutched his sword tightly, silently retreating from the stage.
“Qin Shimei is simply invincible; with such solid ice and such biting cold, even a cultivator in the early stages of the Golden Core would find it hard to gain an advantage.”
“A phoenix among men, that’s what they mean by a woman like Qin Shiming, who possesses both beauty and talent.”
The first match concluded without suspense, and it was time for the second.
The things that instill fear will eventually come; if one cannot hide, then one must face them with courage.
Ye Yong’s mindset had always been quite good. From the moment he decided to confront Long Tian head-on, he had not thought of how to evade his brilliance. Of course, this did not mean Ye Yong would recklessly clash with Long Tian. With his current strength, it would be exceedingly simple to knock Long Tian down. However, while it is easy to overpower someone, doing so without causing any negative repercussions is a far more challenging endeavor.
Proud individuals tend to be rather petty. After all, having read so many novels, when faced with a formidable opponent, most protagonists think of how to surpass them, making themselves appear ambitious, striving, and fearless. As for those who humbly learn from their adversaries and refrain from kicking them when they’re down afterward, such protagonists are rare.
Especially since Long Tian is the quintessential protagonist of a feel-good story, reveling in vengeance and joy. To fight him, one must always maintain their composure; losing one’s head is absolutely not an option. Ye Mao is a prime example of this; despite Ye Yong’s repeated warnings, he still lost his cool, nearly causing a disaster. This shows just how terrifying the buff of diminished intelligence can be.
Although Ye Yong understood the techniques Long Tian possessed, battles are ever-changing, and the different combinations of moves can yield varying effects. Thus, Ye Yong could not guarantee he could completely suppress Long Tian; he could only respond to each move as it came.
Long Tian had long awaited on the dueling platform, his spirit high, eyes gleaming with an excitement that could not be concealed.
Ye Yong felt as if Long Tian looked at him like a walking treasure trove, as if defeating him would unleash a bounty of valuable items.
As Ye Yong stepped onto the stage, he distinctly sensed an indescribable aura emanating from Long Tian—one that he found utterly repulsive and detestable.
Ye Yong understood; it was the aura of mockery in effect. This kind of presence was like a death knell for those highborn, privileged youths who grew up with golden keys in their mouths.
“Please enlighten me,” Long Tian said, bowing in the manner of a cultivator, and Ye Yong returned the gesture.
The duel officially began.
With a long sword drawn, Long Tian’s expression turned serious, his gaze locked onto Ye Yong, as if he had no intention of concealing his strength. He immediately unleashed the signature sword technique used in the early chapters of novels, “Azure Fire, Cang Victory.”
Azure Fire, Cang Victory is among the top-tier techniques in the Xuan level of swordsmanship, one that cannot even be exchanged in the Hall of Techniques of the Tian Luo Sect; it is a rare skill, known to few. It is said to be a simplified version of the Saint-level sword technique “Crimson Lotus, Mourning Moon.” When mastered, it can rival the ordinary Earth-level techniques at a minor completion stage. As for why it is classified as Xuan level, it is due to its difficulty; its early power is too weak, requiring a significant investment of time to practice, with the effort and reward being disproportionate.
As the sword technique was unleashed, the surrounding audience erupted in astonishment.
“Impossible! How could Long Tian possibly know this sword technique!?”
“What’s so special about this sword technique?”
“Haven’t you heard of ‘Crimson Lotus, Cang Moon’?”
“Not at all.”
“The Crimson Lotus Azure Moon is the spirit sword wielded by the Crimson Lotus Sword Saint thousands of years ago! The Sword Saint devoted his entire life to mastering the art, creating the sacred sword technique known as Crimson Lotus Mourning Moon. It is said that when this technique is unleashed with the Crimson Lotus Azure Moon, even the bright moon in the sky will turn red.”
“It can summon celestial phenomena!? So terrifying!? The technique used by Long Tian is the Crimson Lotus Mourning Moon?”
“No, it is the Azure Fire Triumph. Some say it is a simplified version of the Mourning Moon created by the descendants of the Sword Saint, while others claim it was adapted by the Sword Saint’s admirers. Regardless of the truth, over the millennia, very few have known this technique, and even fewer have mastered it. Long Tian cannot possibly be a descendant of the Sword Saint; a descendant of the Saint would not be in such a dire state.”
“Then how did he learn it?”
“How would I know? But this Long Tian, he hides himself well.”
Ye Yong, while parrying the sword strikes, listened to the crowd’s knowledgeable chatter, feeling an indescribable sensation.
In the past, when reading novels, there would always be inexplicably knowledgeable bystanders who could identify the source of a technique the moment the protagonist unleashed it. Experiencing it firsthand now felt quite peculiar.
Yet Ye Yong had long been aware of Long Tian’s methods, so he shouldn’t be surprised. Still, in this moment, he had to feign astonishment and admiration; otherwise, it would be Long Tian who would be left bewildered.